AN ALBUM OF TWELVE LEAVES EXOTIC BIRDS STUDIES QING DYNASTY, STUDIO OF YOUQUA, 19TH CENTURY 清 煜呱畫室 通草紙畫各式花鳥圖 畫冊（共十二幅） gouache on pith paper, mounted with ribbon to paper leaves, brocade-covered cardboard covers, depicting various birds amongst fauna, a label stamped 'Youqua Painter, Old Street, No.34' affixed to the first sheet in the album (17.5cm x 28cm each; album: 15.2cm x 33.5cm) Qty: (12) Provenance: By family repute from the collection of Sir George Balfour (1809-1894), British consul at Shanghai 1843-46; thence by descent. Note: Youqua is regarded as one of the finest Chinese export painters active from the 1840's to the 1880's. Little is known about the life of this Cantonese export painter, but he is known for his fine works in Western style depicting port scenes, landscapes, still lifes and flowers. Youqua originally started in Canton at number 34 Old Street, corresponded to the address on the label of this lot, and later opened a second studio in Hong Kong at number 107 Queen's Road, both under the name of 'Yeehing'. By the 1850's Youqua was regarded as the best studio at that time. Compare to two albums of exotic birds studies, one twelve leaves, the other thirteen leaves, both with stamped labels 'Youqua Painter, Old Street No.34', sold at Sotheby's New York, 18 March 2017, lot 1497 and at Christie's London, 18 June 2002, lot 261.